Texas Was His “Dream School,” So Why Did Austin Attalah Pick the Red Raiders Instead?

Orange Lutheran junior offensive lineman Austin Attalah is officially a Texas Tech Red Raider, making his commitment and breaking down exactly why he chose Lubbock. This standout tackle narrowed his choices to a final three that included Texas and USC, but in the end, the Red Raiders were able to land the talented prospect.

Why Tech Became the New Dream

It’s a wild flip for Attalah, who originally called Texas his dream school back in January. He even told us that if the Longhorns offered, he’d commit on the spot! That offer did come in March, but by then, Attalah decided to play out the process, take unofficial visits, and take his time with his recruitment. So, what shifted? “When I visited Tech back in June, I knew that’s where I wanted to be,” Attalah said. “I spent two days on campus and really liked it a lot.” He loved the coaching staff and the program’s strong commitment to football, calling it a program “definitely going in the right direction.” The Red Raiders had to rally hard in this race, recruiting him intensely and making him feel like a “big priority.”

Family, Facilities, and the Future

Attalah wasn’t really planning on committing so early, but after that Texas Tech visit, he’d been feeling it for at least the last two months before making it official. “Texas Tech had everything I wanted,” he explained. The state of Texas itself holds a special draw for him, with a lot of family there. His mom and he go back every summer, and with family not far from Lubbock, there’s already a “strong support system in place.” Offensive line coach Clay McGuire was crucial, with Attalah saying he has a “great relationship” and knows McGuire “can develop me and help get me to the highest level.” The entire staff was welcoming, the campus and football facilities were top-notch, and the “elite” strength program sealed the deal. Strength training is a huge part of Attalah’s routine, and Tech checked that box perfectly. “It was just the best all-around fit,” he concluded.

Attalah is a serious talent, one of the top prospects in the ’28 class, currently rated No. 21 nationally and the No. 2 offensive tackle in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He even made the move to Orange Lutheran last month to compete in the rugged Trinity League, the toughest league in the state and one of the toughest in the country, specifically “to prepare myself for college.” He’s got high goals, and this commitment is a massive step.

And speaking of tough competition, our Seattle Seahawks were out on the field fighting tonight too. The squad battled hard against the Tennessee Titans but ultimately took a loss, 16-19. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the 12s, no doubt. We’ll be back on the field, though, giving it our all, and we’ll be watching every single play for our Hawks.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.